Simers laments that L.A. is beginning to feel like Sioux City, Iowa, without any major local sports team to follow right now.

Plaschke points out that the average NBA salary is about $5.1 million. When the players start missing paychecks, they'll come back, he says. During the negotiations, he suggests, he and Simers should go hand-in-hand to a Kings game.

Simers is not thrilled about the prospect -- for more than one reason.